Orthopedic spinal and hip joint attachment



Jan. 22, 1957 s. KELES 2,778,358

ORTHOPEDIC SPINAL AND HIP JOINT ATTACHMENT Filed (Bot. 15, 1953INVENTOR. 5oL KELES.

9- 6 ig m g M ORTHOPEI JIC SPINAL AND HIP JOINT ATTACI-HVIENT Sol Keles,Phoenix, Ariz.

Application October 15, 1953, Serial No. 386,297

1 Claim. (Cl. 128-78) This invention pertains to improvements inorthopedic supports and is more particularly directed to an orthopedicbrace to correct spinal and hip deformities and vertebra discdisplacement.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an improvedorthopedic spinal and hip joint attachment to correct misalignment ofthe lumbar vertebra and discs by the application of pressure atstrategic locations on the body of the wearer of the attachment.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improvedorthopedic spinal and hip joint. attachment for correcting thedisplacement of the hip member of the body relative to the lumbarvertebra and discs of the spinal column and which attachment does notimpede the standing, bending over or sitting position of the wearerwhile accomplishing its desired ends. 7

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improvedorthopedic support adapted to engage the body at three points to effecta transverse shifting of the hip portion and pelvis relative to thelumbar vertebra of the spinal column of the body structure without inany way impeding freedom of relative movement of the trunk of the bodyand the forward and backward bending of the body at the hip.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved hingedsupport member contacting the body at two widely spaced points, with ahinge connection in between, separated from body contact when the braceis strapped to the wearer for purposes of correcting hip dislocation inthe body structure.

Further features and advantages of this invention will appear from adetailed description of the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the displacement of the lumbar vertebra andpelvis bones of a body structure to be corrected by the novel orthopedicspinal column and hip joint attachment incorporating the features ofthis invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear view showing the orthopedic attachment being worn.

Fig. 3 is a right hand side view of the structure shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a left hand side view of the structure shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a view indicated by the line 55 in Fig. 2 particularly showingthe novel hinged body contacting member when the wearer is in standingposition.

Fig. 6 shows the structure of Fig. 5 with the wearer in partially bentover position or sitting position.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Figs. 5 and 6 but showing the position ofthe hinged member when the wearer is in fully bent over position.

As exemplary of one embodiment of this invention there is shown in Fig.1 a situation where the upper lumbar vertebrae 10 are in alignmentindicated by the axis 11 on top of which are the thoracic vertebrae 12and the ribs 13. It will be noted that the pelvic bone indicatedgenerally at 14 and the lower lumbar vertebrae 15 are nited StatesPatent 0 i 2,778,358 Patented Jan. 22, 1957 2 misaligned as indicated bythe line 16 in comparison with the line 11 at the disc 17 between thevertebrae and the pelvic bone 14. Such a displacement of the disc 17 canlead to severe paralysis and damage to the lower portion of the bodystructure and must be corrected by proper re-alignment of the axes 11and 16 in the body structure.

Many forms of braces and supports have been applied in an attempt tocorrect this situation but all have failed because they neglected toallow for the ready flexibility and bending of the trunk of the body atthe hips while at the same time maintaining necessary corrective sidepressure to keep the axes 11 and 16 in alignment. It is essential thatthese two functions oftransverse pressure and freedom of bending of thebody at the hips be maintained under all conditions so that thecorrective forces will gradually restore alignment of the axes 11 and 16and the health of the patient along therewith.

In order to accomplish these ends there is provided the novel orthopedicspinal and hip joint attachment comprising an upper body contactingmember 18 and a lower body contacting member 19 which are preferably ofU-shaped rigid structure which engage the lower back portion of thepatient 20. These members 18 and 19 form the initial positioning devicesfor holding the structure as a whole on the body of the wearer. Suitablestraps 21 and 22 serve to secure the members 18 and 19 onthe body of thewearer.

On the left hand end 23 of the lower body contacting member 19 is thepressure pad 24 which engages the side of the hip substantially at thepoint 25, Fig. 1, toward the upper edge of the ilium 26 of the pelvis 14on the left hip of the wearer.

To the right hand end 27 of the upper body contacting member 18 is fixedthe upper pressure plate 28 of the novel hinge structure shownparticularly in Figs. 3, 5, 6 and 7, the pressure plate 28 engaging thebody at the point 29 supported by the ribs 13 of the wearer. The lowerportion of the hinge member structure has a lower pressure plate 30which engages the leg and hip portion of the wearer at a point 31 of theright hip lower down on the ilium 32 of the right hip than the point ofengagement 25 on the left hip.

The pressure plates 28 and 30 are inter-connected by the lever arms 33fixed to the member 28 and the lever arm 34 fixed to the lower pressureplate 30, the arms 33 and 34 being connected together and spaced fromcontact with the wearer at all times by an anti-friction bearing hinge35 of long life and easy movement and requiring no lubrication.

The right hand end 36 of the lower body contacting member 19 is fixed bysuitable screws or other fastening means 37 to the upper lever arm 33 ofthe novel hinged pressure device in such a manner that there is nocontact between. the intermediate portions and hinge member 35 of thelever arms 33 and 34 and the body of the wearer so'that pressure appliedby the strap 22 against the side of the hinged lever. arms 33 and 34does in no Way apply any pressure to the body of the wearer, thepressure being applied solely through the pressure pads engaging thebody at the points 29 and 31 by the pressure pads 28 and 39 of thehinged member particularly the location of the pressure plates 28 and 30of the hinged member device it is possible for the wearer to stand, sitor bend completely over while at the same time main- 3. taining aconstant application .of force through the straps to the pressure points25, 29 and 31. It will be further noted that the pressure point 25 isabove the pressure point 31, Fig. 1, while the pressure point 29 isabove both of said points so that there is a moment of force tending tomove the ribs 13 and lumbar vertebra portion of the spinal column to theright, Fig. 1, while relatively urging the hip portion comprising thepelvic bone 14 to the left to restore alignment of the axes 11 and 16and the disc 17 of the wearer.

Applicant suffered so many long years and the last two years wasparalyzed completely in hip and knee joints, knee-cap and the lowerankle so that applicant couldnt bend them. Applicant couldnt stand, hadto sit or lie down all the time. Applicant designed this invention andapplied to his body and put the pressure on the higher side and thesecond day immediately felt better and started walking around step bystep and today applicant is perfectly normal. The spine has straightenedout and the discs are positioned and the hip is in the right position.

Before the application of this attachment the right hip was one andthree-quarter inches to the left and threequarter inches lower and theleft hip was three-quarter inches highenand three-quarter inches out Thejoints were opened up and the discs of the spine wide open at 17 asindicated at Fig. 1 of the drawings.

While the apparatus herein disclosed and described constitutes apreferred form of the invention, it is also to be understood that theapparatus is capable of mechanical alteration without departing from thespirit of the invention and that such mechanical arrangement andcommercial adaptation as fall within the scope of the appenden claim areintended to be included herein.

Having thus fully set forth and described this invention what is claimedand desired to be obtained by United States Letters Patent is: n

In an orthopedic hip brace, a semi-circular upper body contacting memberand a semi-circular lower body contacting member interconnectedtherewith adapted to engage the back of the wearer having ends at thesides of the wearer located respectively above and below the waist line,strap means for securing said body contacting members to the wearerconnected to the ends of said members, a first pressure plate on one endof said lower body contacting member adapted to engage a hip of thewearer, a second pressure plate on the opposite end of said upper bodycontacting member from said first mentioned pressure plate, a thirdpressure plate adapted to engage the side of the leg of the wearer belowsaid second mentioned pressure plate, a hinge connection means betweensaid second and third mentioned pressure plates arranged fornon-engaging position on the-wearer, and strap means engagingsaid hingedconnection means to move said first mentioned pressure plate toward saidsecond and third mentioned pressure plates for any position of the bodyand legs of said wearer.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 9,826Abbe July 5, 1853 32,014 Taylor Apr. 8, 1861 2,332,119 Springer Oct. 19,1943 2,687,129 Talkish Aug. 24, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 202,201 GreatBritain Aug. 16,1928 342,294 Germany Oct. 15, 1921

